Chapter Four

1.Describe your earliest memories of listening to radio. Do you remember a favorite song? How old were you? Do you remember the station's call letters? Why did you listen?
I can remember listening to "Rick Dees and the Weekly Top 40" every Sunday. I can't remember how old I was, but I'm pretty sure I was between seven and nine when I first started to pay attention to music on the radio that I liked. Before that, I would listen to whatever my mom would have on (because she always had the radio on in the car or in the kitchen) but I would never really decide for myself. I don't really remember how I started to make it a ritual, but I would always make sure Rick Dees was on and I would listen to it until it went off, which was around one in the afternoon. I think it used to come on Kiss 95.1 but I honestly don't remember what the station was. I listened to this radio show because it played all of my favorite songs, which were of course top 40 hits, and Rick Dees didn't really talk that much. He focused on the music and I was always really anxious to see who would be number one.

2. How might radio be used to improve social and political discussions in the United States?
To begin with, I think that a really good example of how political discussion is improved in the United States is NPR. NPR delivers news via radio to listeners and this is typically political in topic. I know that when I listen to NPR, it provides me with a sense of comfort because I know what's going on and I feel confident talking about what I heard with other people because I'm informed. I think this happens with other radio stations as well. When I listen to Christian radio stations, there are plenty of segments where there is information given, or sermons preached, that gives listeners information that act as a tool when discussing the topics with others. Just about any topic can be discussed on the radio in a respectful way that doesn't violate any regulations, and because of this, radio can be used as a valuable tool for getting information to listeners so that they may be educated enough to carry on discussions with other people.

3. If you could own and manage a commercial radio station, what format would you choose, and why?
If I had my own commercial radio station, I would try my best to blend the news/talk format with an adult contemporary format. I would try to offer a few news segments that offered a liberal view of the news (and that's simply my being very honest and blunt because I'm very liberal and I wouldn't want to portray my station as a conservative station), a morning show that was fun and upbeat and then I would also play adult contemporary music throughout the day. I would do this because it's a blend of things that I really like. I love the news and I enjoy AC music and I feel that a blend of these things would provide listeners with the opportunity to become informed by the same station that keeps them entertained. It would be nice to have a station that parents could turn to without having to worry if the next segment was appropriate for their kids to listen to, so I would make sure that any topic or song that may seem too controversial was played during school hours. Some may call that a form of censorship, but I would consider that a courtesy to listeners.

Chapter Three

1. Who was your first favorite group or singer? How old were you at the time? What was important to you about this music?
When I was about six years old, the Spice Girls became huge in America. My older sister and I absolutely loved them. We listened to all of their music, watching their movie, bought their posters and knew every word to every song. As a gift from our parents, we were taken to see them in concert and it was one of the best memories I have, not because they were such powerful musicians, but because I was getting to see my idols for the first time at such a young age. My sister and I were not the only girls in America who were obsessed with the Spice Girls and I believe this is because of how catchy their music was and how they portrayed themselves. The Spice Girls was a group that promoted the idea of "girl power" which was something that no other group had done before. They sparked the idea that young girls had voices and their music was addictive not only because the beats were nice, but because the message in their songs were positive, age appropriate and the first of it's kind for my generation.

2. If you ran a noncommercial campus radio station, what kind of music would you play and why?
If I ran a noncommercial radio station, I think I would try to appeal to the entire campus by playing a very eclectic style of music. I would probably survey the campus to see what exactly the students wanted to hear, and then I would break my station up by playing different types of music during each hour. For example, early in the morning when many athletic groups are training, I would play upbeat music that would be good for listening to while you workout. Late at night when many are studying, I would play softer music. In between, I would alternate between the popular music that the students enjoy such as country, hip hop, Christian or rap. Because I would have the power of the radio station, I would probably find myself playing songs form each genre that I actually like. For example, when I was playing country music, I might play more Garth Brooks or Taylor Swift because I like both of those artists.

3. Do you think the Internet as a technology helps or hurts musical artists? Why do so many contemporary musical performers differ in their opinions about the internet?
I think that it when it comes to advertising and getting the names of musical artists out to the public, the internet has become essential. With MySpace, Facebook, search engines, and internet radio websites, it's almost impossible to get online without being faced with some type of musical reference. I think that without the internet, musical artists would be very hard pressed to make it big and reach their target markets, because almost every target market is now going online. I do understand the impact that illegal downloading of music has had on the industry, but I think that the cons of the internet as a technology are no greater than the pros. I think that many contemporary performers struggle with their opinions because they want to be compensated for their work, but they also want to have their music reach as many people as possible. With music becoming more expensive, many people can't afford to buy through iTunes or go to a store and get their music. Many artists don't want to lose sight of "making music for the sake of music" but they also know that it's their income at stake. There are some artists, like the lead singer of the Fleet Foxes, who advocate downloading their music illegally, and this is because they truly don't care about the money being lost because they're either making up for it in other areas, or they're comfortable with what they already have.

Chapter Two

1. What was your first encounter with the Internet like? How did it compare with your first encounters with other mass media?

I have trouble recalling my very first experience on the Internet because I hardly remember a time when it wasn't around. My earliest memories, however, are of the very first Internet service that was commercially available in America. CompuServe charged users by the hour to use their services and I still remember the excitement of hearing the dial-up tone as I anxiously awaited for the Internet to load up. As a kid, I didn't do much with the Internet but we always had it in our home. After CompuServe died out, we began using AOL and this is where my most vivid memories come to mind. I remember my first AOL user name was "flwrpwr98" and it was set on the most strict parental controls, as I was only seven years old. I remember visiting the AOL kids page, visiting the moderated kid's chat rooms and playing games on Nickelodeon.com. I was really intrigued about how the Internet worked and I was always fascinated by the idea that I could communicate with other kids in other states and countries. I think that because I was introduced to the Internet at such a young age, I became de-sensitized as other forms of mass media were brought to my attention. Printed media was just always "there", so I don't remember forming an opinion on it. When it comes to social networking and social media, as well as television media and radio, it seems very natural and almost a second nature for me to utilize. I think that this shows that my generation as well as the generations to come will be very comfortable with mass media and will not only be content, but will grow to expect bigger and better things during their lifetime when it comes to different types of media.

2. What possibilities of the Internet's future are you most excited about? Why? What possibilities are most troubling? Why?

 I am very excited about the future of social networking and social media. Lately, I have been more active when it comes to research and use of social networking websites such as Twitter and Face Book and how they can positively impact the success of businesses and education. I think that the idea that we can connect with the world through social media is so intriguing because their are endless possibilities available when we literally have connection to the world through our fingertips. For example, through Twitter updates to my cell phone during the snowstorm I was able to learn about road conditions and weather forecasting during a time of power outage. Another example of social networking at it's finest is a story I heard on the news, where a man and his wife were at home and his phone was almost dead as he discovered she had fallen and had a suspected heart attack. One tweet and five minutes later, someone had seen his cry for help and an ambulance arrived to save the life of a woman. While there are several positive benefits to social networking, I am hesitant to say that it could be known as a new way of life. To begin with, I am a big advocate of not replacing personal relationships with online relationships. It is very easy to rely on text messages, twitter and Face Book to keep a relationship going, and in turn, the intimacy and specialness of a relationship can quickly be subtracted. I find it troubling that many will assume that because social networking allows relationships to thrive that it is the only way to keep one intact and that is simply not the case. It is in my opinion that the best form of communication is still a conversation that can happen when two people are face to face.

3. Do you think virtual communities are genuine communities? Why or why not?

I have very mixed emotions when it comes to this question. I think that if I had to chose either a 'yes' or 'no' answer, that I would say no. Virtual communities offer an incredible amount of flexibility when it comes to staying in contact with society. Social networking websites such as MySpace and Face Book allow users to customize a profile, upload pictures and videos and communicate with others through comments and private messages. The level of connectivity that is generated through this form of media is overwhelming. On my personal Face Book page, I have over 700 'friends'. While there are many I've never really spoken with, there are hundreds that I would never make the effort to keep in touch with sans Face Book. This being said, I feel like the level of intimacy in virtual communities is very low. It takes little effort to communicate with millions of people, and often times, people will connect with hundreds of people they don't really know in order to gain a higher "status".  I understand that many people find it easier to talk to people through the Internet, but I also feel as though online communication eliminates much of our verbal communication and in turn, makes it harder for us to truly get to know other people. To say that virtual communities are not genuine is a rather large accusation, but to say that a virtual community is a well maintained, intimate community is also untrue. For a virtual community to be effective, one must keep in mind that it is simply an amplification of real life and that it cannot replace human contact.

Chapter One

1. Using music or television as an example, identify a performer or program you once liked but grew away from as you got older and your tastes changed. Why do you think this happened? Do you think your early interests in popular music or television have had an impact on shaping your identity? Explain.

When I was growing up in the '90s, Nickelodeon was the only channel I cared to watch and my favorite show was the Rugrats. When I was a kid, I thought this show was hilarious and I was completely captivated by the simple dialogue, bright colors and whimsical plots that somehow managed to hold my attention at a time when the attention span of most children rarely allowed them to sit still for thirty minutes without interruption. As I grew older, however, my love of this show along with the rest of the Nickelodeon line-up faded as my interests shifted. The older I became, the more interest I gained in current events and media that I could relate to. As a child, it is easy to relate to the simplicity of media that targets children because it often contains the same issues that children face with the same level of maturity and understanding that their age group is experiencing. Once my own maturity level surpassed that of the Rugrats, I was no longer interested in the television program and actively sought other sources of media to capture my attention. I do believe that my early interest in television had an impact on shaping my identity because the choices I made (for example, to watch Nickelodeon rather than the Disney Channel) allowed me to independently decide what my interests were. I was able to discover what made me laugh, what made me cry and what didn't interest me at all. This form of self-discovery paved the way for me as an adult to sort through the growing sources of media to find what appeals to me as an individual and what feeds my creative hunger.

2. Pick an example of a popular media product that you think is harmful to children. How would you make your concerns known? Should the product be removed from circulation? Why or why not? If you think the product should be banned, how would you do it?

 The invention of the cell phone was a great thing and there are days when I think I like my blackberry more than I like certain people. I do not, however, understand why children need a cell phone. I emphasize the word 'need' because you ask any child 14 and under if they need their cell phone, and the answer is an emphatic and dramatic "Yes!". While I don't believe that giving a child a cell phone in all situations is a harmful practice, I do believe that harm is done to children who are allowed to have a personal cell phone with no limits and restrictions. If I had a child of my own, I would allow them to have a cell phone with controlled minutes (such as a virgin mobile) to take with them when they are not supervised by a parent or responsible family member. I may consider allowing my child to keep this type of cell phone in their book bag at school (with the teacher knowing) in case I needed to reach them after school. I would not, however, allow my child to use this device to access the internet or to talk and text for hours to their friends. To begin with, cell phone use is a distraction and can interfere with studying and learning, especially if the cell phone is allowed to be taken to school without being monitored. I also believe that allowing children to replace verbal communication with text messaging is detrimental to intellectual growth and paves the way for difficulties in social settings where communication verbally is essential. I would also note that telephone communication is not always a bad thing, but that replacing human contact with technological contact completely is unhealthy. I don't believe that this product should removed from circulation because I believe that it's a beneficial product that provides a valuable service to many people. I don't, however, think that children should be relying on a cell phone so early in life so that they may be unable to function without it as they age.

3. Although in some ways postmodern forms of communication, such as e-mail,MTV, and CNN, have helped citizens participate in global life, in what ways might these forms harm more traditional or native cultures?

 With social media and social networking slowing taking over the globe, it is important to recognize what harm can come from something that can seemingly be so progressive that it has no negative attributions. Traditionally speaking, we are morphing into a society that is abandoning one of it's oldest forms of communication; the printed media is quickly becoming obsolete. With news sources shifting to online media, printed newspapers and magazines are quickly making their exit from circulation. E-mails, twitter and social networking websites are eliminating the need for many postal services, thus creating a problem for millions of people who rely on the printed media for employment. While millions of jobs are being created because of postmodern forms of communication, those who were qualified for employment for printed media (such as mail carriers, newspaper printers, ink suppliers, etc) are not qualified for employment with technology that is being developed currently. Another rising issue is that access to postmodern forms of communication are not always available to everyone. For those struggling, especially in today's economy, the access to the internet is sometimes very limited which makes it difficult to convert to a world strictly of postmodern communication. For many countries, internet

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